Wrench



J. L. HAPPY.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION man SEPT- 13. 1919.

1,37 1,679. Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

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J. L'. HAPPY.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEP1213, I9l9.

1,371,679. Pa ented Mar- 15, 1921.

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JOHN L. HAPPY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' WRENCH.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN L. HAPPY, a citizen of. the UnitedStates of America, and a resident of Chicago, couiityof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tools of the general character known as speed wrenches, and the main objects of the invention are to provide an automatic wrench of improved form adapted for ready operation in either direotion without reversal of position; to provide a wrench of the character stated, which may be readily used by an unskilled operator and with a. minimum of attention to the necessary manual control on the part of the user; to provide a wrench, adapted to automatically grip the object to be turned by swinging the handle the'appropriate direction; to provide a wrench having selfrestorable jaws capable of automatic setting upon application of the wrench tothe object to be turned; to provide such a wrench adapted for setting by direct inward thrust of; the handle inv its neutral midway position; to provide means in the wrench for powerfully multiplying the manual force for holding the jaws tightly against the object to be turned to provide such a wrench having a new principle of operation and method of using; and-to provide such a wrench in a form adapted for ready manufacture in large quantities. at low cost.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanyingdraw ings, in which- Figure 1 is .a planof the wrench lying on its flat side, with the convex side upward. I

Fig. 2: is an edgewiseview of the wrench. Fig. 3 is an. enlarged view of the head of the wrench in its normal open position and .with the convex casing member removed.

dotted lines showing the wrench closed on a nut and the handle swung to the left.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the wrench as viewed from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 5-5 ofFig. 3.

Fig. 6,is a section of the complete wrench on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 5.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Applicationfilcd September 13, 1919.

' member.

Patented Mar. 15-, 1921. Serial No. 323,517.

Fig. 8 is an inside plan of the back section lower casing member of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is an inside plan of the front sect1on or upper casing member of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 1s a rear edge view of one of the aw members. Fig. 11 IS a perspective view of; the wedge Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inner end of the handle member.

Figs. 13 and .14 are side views of one of the interchangeable aw members.

Fig. 15 is an edgewise view of the wedge member.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the wrench with the face plate removed as in Fig. 3, and with the handle turned slightly and the jaws accordingly moved inward to small degree.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the wrench comprises mainly a. handle member 1 in combination with a casing including a back-plate 2 and a front plate 3 fitting together in registry to form a hollow chamber, a right-hand jaw member 4, a left-hand jaw member 4;, and a wedge member 5. provided with an a'ierture or recess 6 adjacent tofthe handle member, for the purpose hereinafter described, and in order to provide for inclosing said aperture, the wall is expanded convexly at 7, as best shown in Figs. 5 and G. hen the wrench assembled, the plates 2 and; 3 are secured together permanently as by means of rivets S. or if preferred, said parts may be secured by spot-welding or other appropriate means, as understood in the art.

The jaw member 4 includes a rectangular body part 9 and a jaw proper 10 on the forward edge ofthe part 9. Said part 9 on its back edge is provided with a deep notch 11 of V-sliape adapted to accommodate and engage said wedge member 5, as will be more fully explained. The jaw proper 10 has an inner bearing edge 12 disposed substantially parallel with the corresponding opposing edge 12 of the complementary jaw. Said jaw member 4 is recessed on its outer edge at 13 to receive the adjacent edge wall of the wrench casing. The gripping edge or face 12 of the jaw s terminates adjacent to the forward edge 14 of the body Said front plate 3 is,

V part 9. The edge 14 and the opposite rear edge 15 serve as parallel bearings slidable transversely on corresponding parts of the casing, as will be more fully explained.- The left jawd is similar in every-respect to the jaw 4 and is interchangeable therewith.

The handle member 1 is provided with a handle proper 16, preferably of open or fluted construction, and the inner end or body part 17 is relatively thin and flat to fit operatively between the casing members 2 and 3, which are apertured therefor as Wlll. be explained. The inner tip of said body part 17 is provided with an upwardly projecting cam member 18 adapted to extend within and to operatively engage an edge of the casing aperture 6. Said projection 18 is oblong in shape and disposed transversely of the handle, the outer side of said inner end, the

engage projectionbeing flush with the inner end of the handle member.

The inner and outer faces of said cam member are rounded conveily at 19 and 20 respectively. Said handle is arranged for pivotal connection to said wedge member 5. To this end it is provided with a pivot-receiving hole 21 spaced somewhat from the the wedge member 5 which is accordingly provided with a plvot, as will be morefully explained.

The wedge member 5 comprises a rectangular body part or shank 22, having a pivot 23, and a wedge part proper 241 at the forward end of said part 22. Said part 21 is the same thickness as the parts 9 combined, but the shank at 22 isrelatively thin. The back sides of said parts 22 and 24. are flush with each other, thus providing a continuous back wall 25 adapted to lie flat against the casing member 2.

The back casing plate 2 comprises a substantially rectangular body having a convexly curved rear edge part or projection 26 extending toward the handle 1. The said body part of the plate 2 is provided with a rectangular recess 27 of considerably greater j width than the body part 9 of the jaw member 1, so as to provide room for lateral oscillation of the latter within said casing. The rearward part 26 contains a central slot 28 perpendicular to the recess 27 and contiguous therewith, to receive the shank 22 of said wedge member for guiding the latter in its oscillatory movement toward and away from said jaws. Said recess 27 r is inclosed at its ends by the flange-like side walls 29, whereby divergent movement of the jaws is limited.

Jaw-restoring means .30 are provided in.

' the form of leaf springs for urging said aws to a normal open position. Each of said springs hasit-s outer end set stationarily in the corresponding casing plate opposite the body part of the corresponding purpose of said hole being to jaw, as at 31 on plate 2 and at 31 on plate 3 near opposite edges of the wrench. The inwardly disposed movable ends of said springs bear against the edges 32 and 32 of said jaw members respectively.

The casing plate 2 is provided with a shoulder 33 disposed centrally in the front part of the aperture 27 for retaining the jaw 4: in place, which jaw slidably engages said shoulder on its edge 14;. The plate 3 is likewise provided with a shoulder 33 in registry with shoulder 33 to coact with the edge 14: of the jaw member 4'. Said casing plates are each provided with perforations 34 arrangedin registry for the rivets 8, each plate having such a hole in the shoulder 33 and 33respectively and alsoin each of the rear bearing faces 36 and 36 respectively.

When assembled, the plates'2 and 3 abut together on the flanges 29and shoulder faces 36 and 36'. cess 37 and 37 respectively, of about 90 width between the shoulders 36 and 36 respectively, to accommodate the. swing of handle part 17. The slot 28 of plate 2 lies centrally in the aperture 37, and its bottom is flush with the bottom of chamber 27. The

Each plate has a segmental re- 7 segmental apertures 37 and 37 are of less depth than the rectangular apertures con bears slidably and with great force against the back edge face'39 of the wedge part 2a, so as, in a measure, to relieve and assist the pivot 23. v

The operation of the wrench is as follows:

The jaws being normally held wide apart by the springs, the wrench is placed over the nut. The handle is then thrust forward toward the nut thereby urging the wedge member forward between the more remote inclined edges 11 of the jaw members, and 7 thereby placing the body parts 9'in'tension to pull the jaws together, This serves to set the jaws snug against the nut, then upon swinging the handle either to the right or to the left, depending on whether the nut is to be turned off or on, the cam reacts on its handle side against shoulder 38'on the camplate 3, thereby tending to thrust the handle farther inward. Motion is transmitted through the handle-pivot to the wedge member and thereby drives the wedge more tightly against the said inclined jaw edges. Forcible turning of the handle further swings the wrench body with it and turns the nut accordingly. As soon as the handle is released, the springs tend to expand'the jaws and restore the wrench to its normal position :withthe handle midway in its range of movement.

to set the wrench, andthen swings his hand,

eitherto the right or left, according to what motion he desires to impart to the nut. At

. ficiently the end of thestroke, the hand is merely swung backward and again thrust forward to again set the wrench, which operation is repeated over andover'until the nut is suftightened or loosened as may be required. I

It is important, for the purpose of a clear understanding, to note that the operation is precisely the same for loosening as for tightening the nut, and the wrench operates equally-well, andin' precisely the same manner, when used either side up.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 13, it is apparent that the movement of jaw member 4 relative to the back plate 2 is crosswise only, in the oblong recess 27 between shoulder 33 and the opposite edge 27. The jaw member 4 moves likewise in the recessed front plate 3. The position of said jaw members is always symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line of the wrench, for the jaw-actuating wedge 5 is limited to movement in slot 28 along said line. 7 i

It is to be noted, as above referred to, that the outer face of the handle-cam is so designed that, as force is applied, the clearance between said cam and the wedge becomes m'Z, and the cam operates directly against the wedge and shares the force which would otherwise be transmitted solely through the handle pivot, above mentioned.

Referring to Figs. 8, 9, 11, and 12, it is apparent that the wedge 5, urged backward in slot 28 toward handle 1 by the spring-actuated jaws, holds the cam member 18 always seated against the plate shoulder 38. When the jaws are partly closed by swinging the handle to one side, the cam,

wedge, and jaws take a corresponding position as illustrated by dotted lines on Fig. The reactions are mutual and the relations are all positive, by reason of the springs 30.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A wrench, comprising in combination a casing, a unitary handle swingingly connected thereto for turning the wrench as a whole, a pair of jaw members slidably mounted in said casing, and a wedge operatively related to said handle and co-active directly with said jaw members whereby swinging of said handle relative to said casing is capable of forcing said jaw members into gripping relation.

2. A wrench, comprising in combination a casing, a handle swingingly connected thereto,'a pair of jaw members slidably-mounted in said casing for reciprocatorv movement convergently and divergently, resilient means urging said aw members divergently, and a wedge operatively related to said handle and aw members whereby swinging of said handle relative to said casing is capable of forcing said jaw members into gripping relation.

; wrench, comprising in combination a casing, a handle swingingly connected thereto, a pair of jaw members slidably mounted in said casing, and a wedgeoperatively related to said handleandjaw members whereby swinging of said handle relative to said casing is capable of forcing said j aw members into gripping relation, said casing and wedge each having direct mechanical connection with said handle, one of said connections being pivotal and the other being a cam connection. 7

4. A wrench, comprising in combination a casing, a leverage handle swingingly connected thereto, a pair of jaw members slidably mounted in said casing, and a wedge operatively related to said handle and jaw members whereby swinging of said handle relative to said casing is capable of forcing said jaw members into gripping relation, said casing and wedge each having direct mechanical connection with said handle, one of said connections being pivotal and the other being a cam connection, the cam connection being at the inner end of said handle and the pivotal connection being spaced therefrom somewhat toward the manual end of the handle.

5. A wrench, comprising in combination a casing, a handle swingingly connected thereto, a pair of jaw members slidably mounted in said casing, and a wedge operatively related to said handle and jaw members whereby swinging of said handle relative to said casing is capable of forcing said jaw members into gripping relation, said jaw members each including a body part with a jaw proper on one side near one end and having a recess on the opposite side near the opposite end, the body parts of said members being arranged to overlap with their recesses more or less in registry, depending on the variable relative position of the jaws, and said wedge being disposed to bear at the outer edge of each recess.

6. A wrench, comprising in combination casing, a handle swingingly connected thereto, a pair of jaw members slidably mounted in said casing, and a wedge operatively related to said handle and jaw members whereby swinging of said handle relative to said casing is capable of forcing said 7 tected against tampering,

' jaw members into gripping relation, said casing being hollow and including front.

7-. A wrench comprising in combination a casing, a handle swingingly connected thereto, a pair of jaw members slidably mounted in said casing, and a wedge opera-1 ti-vely related to said handle and aw members whereby swinging of said handlerela+ tive to said casing is capable of forcing said jaw members into gripping relation,

said casing comprising sections secured to gether permanently in a substantially integral'manner, whereby the mechanism is'proev-new thereto, a pairof jaw members slidably mounted in said casing, and a wedge operatively related to said handle and jaw members whereby swingingofsaidhandle relative to said casing is capable of forcing said jaw members into gripping relation, said wedge having a relatively thin shank disposed transversely to the wedge planes, and said' handle being pivoted to said shank somewhat back from the wedging part proper, and the adjacent end of said handle having a lateral projection for engaging said casing.

Signed .at Chicago this 10th day of September, 1919. v A V JOHN L. HAPPY. 

